INTERNSHIP BLOG #THE FINAL

GUESS WHO'S RE-USING IMAGES!

But in all seriousness...

Doggies...
Kitties...

And this, a flier I made for the people of Bay Park Pet Clinic based on knowledge I gained while I was working at the clinic.

Reflection:
I would have to say the best learning experience I had was group experience. After all, work and school both revolve around working in a group, no matter where you are or what you're doing. To be a part of a group and learn the functions of group dynamics was definitely a positive experience for me, and it was certainly a lot of fun once I got the hang of speaking to everyone and being able to help out with everything. I also learned that I'm the type of person who likes to take an active role, as evidenced by the fact that I felt blank and useless when I was unable to do anything to help out around the clinic. I also felt at my best when I was actually doing things, and it made me feel happy and special that I was able to do something to help the people of the clinic, and in a way, help myself to feel good.

And with that, I bid you farewell from the world of internship. It seems like now we're going into the world of schooling again. Won't that be a fun experience?

INTERNSHIP BLOG #LATE AGAIN

So once again, I am restrained by my lack of ability to take photos. So, I decided to do something a little different...

This is a kind of short-comic illustration of things that happen every day I've gone to internship. Panel 1 is arrival, greeting the people at the front when I come in through the front door. After I clock in and put my stuff down, we reach panel 2, in which I've entered the back room and look up at the list of what animals are in house or what animals will be coming in, and what's going on with those animals (there was at least one dental every day, though). Panel 3 illustrates me keeping the (normally) sedated dogs company while they wait for whatever they're there for to start. Since I can't restrain the dogs while they're being pricked, I figure the least I can do is keep them company while everyone else is doing things like that. Panel 4 is actually not random - it's Rocko's Tacos! Rocket, or Rocko, is a parrot that lives in the clinic, and who we will interact with on a daily basis. He often tries to sneak into the room while we're working, too, even though he's not allowed to. Also, he mimics noises that happen around the office... so we'll randomly hear the phone ringing and it'll be him. And finally, panel 5 is what happens at the end... I say my goodbyes, clock out, and head on home.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP YESTERDAY

The Important Things...
#1- Observation
There is nothing more important than observing the people at the clinic do what they do. It is a way to learn without hindering the abilities of others, and if questions are asked the experience becomes all the more worthwhile. By observing, I am able to reach basic conclusions and understand what is going on without asking unnecessary questions that would get irritating and repetitive if I were to keep asking them whenever I wanted to know something I could learn just by watching.

#2- Conversation
When it comes to a workplace, conversation is key. It is needed to communicate what is going on from place to place, and it also helps for everyone to get to know each other. As someone who has trouble working in groups, I am finding the need for conversation to be something that has stimulated my mind and caused me to start adjusting to working with other people, as well as listen better and find appropriate times to make comments and react to situations.

#3- Assisting
The final, and my favorite, part is to be able to help. Whether it's just holding something in place for the doctor or getting supplies for people, it always makes me feel good when I can do something to help, and flat-out useless when I can't. To be able to help, to do something, for me, is the biggest accomplishment that I can make, and it makes me realize that you have to do something in order to be able to feel proud of yourself for it.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #INTERVIEW

Dr. Crosby Roper, V.M.D. C.V.A.

Bay Park Pet Clinic
1102 Morena Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92110-3809

Mentor Interview
Me: Why did you decide to pursue a career in veterinary medicine?
Dr. Roper: I had an epiphany when I was in 10th grade. I was walking home from school, and it just came to me. It may have to do with my having a friend who lived on a farm, and seeing a vet who came out there and did all kinds of cool things.
Me: Why did you decide to pursue veterinary acupuncture?
Dr. Roper: I was tired of throwing medicine at old dogs and it just not working. I would recommend that the owners take the dogs to see a vet who specialized in acupuncture up in Kengsington, and the people just loved it.
Me: Where did you work before you purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic?
Dr. Roper: I worked at the Cabrillo vet clinic, and I also did some on-call jobs before I bought Bay Park Pet Clinic.
Me: What is the most interesting thing you've encountered?
Dr. Roper: It just depends on what you're doing. Endoscopies are always interesting, since you never know what you'll find. One time, we had a kitten who had been chronically vomiting for six months, and we were about to put him down, but we decided to do an endoscopy, and we found a toy mouse caught in his small intestine.

INTERNSHIP BLOG THE WHATEVERTH

I'm seriously getting tired of titling these things.

My week was a lot of fun. There was a lot that happened; lump removals, x-rays, lots of animals, dentals... many things happened, but I think the greatest part of my week was being able to help. I got to hold doggie limbs in place for two lump removals, and I got to help get biopsies for a cat's endoscopy. It made me feel really special, like I had an active role, and it just made me really happy, like I was actually able to do something. Also, Darren stopped in on Friday, and it was nice to see him after being 'away' from school for so long. Here's to hoping I still remember how to do work once I go back...

...But definitely, the best part was helping. Definitely. =D

INTERNSHIP BLOG the 5622nd or something

Here's an image for you.
The clinic really is like a chaos field. There's so much going on... and yet, so little. It seems like one moment everyone's busy and the next we're chatting about movies and ex-boyfriends. Internship has really given me a feel for the way that people act around each other and their non-human companions. It has inspired me to try and spend a little more time with my own K-9 companion (when I am not busy with school!) and to put more effort into what I do - take a more active role, ask more questions, and generally ask if I can do anything to help. When I ask more questions and offer more help, I am generally a bigger help, and I learn more, as I have noticed with what has been going on. The first few days I was quiet and timid, and only kind of watched things, but lately I have been offering my help and people have been asking for it as well - I just need to work on being out of the way when people are trying to pass through an area and I should be fine!

A few possible questions I can ask Dr. Roper are...
->Why did you decide to pursue acupuncture?
->What inspired you to pursue a career in the veterinary field?
->Where did you work before you purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic?
->What has your most interesting experience working as a vet been?
And, as cheesy of a question as it may be...
->If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would that advice be?

I have also been casually asking him about other things, like his experience in vet school and what training was like, which gives me a bigger insight about what the field is like, since I myself have taken an interest in the field from working around the clinic. We also talk about other things, like the animals and how my own bighead is doing, and my family, too, since Dr. Roper is friends with my family.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #9001

This blog will be edited. The information is rough and needs more to be added. In other words, I was watching UP with my parents and totally forgot about this.

Some basic background information about Dr. Roper can actually be found here, on the Bay Park Pet Clinic website. To debrief what it says - Roper graduated in 1985 from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. He was a part of the Phi Zeta Honor Society. He moved to San Diego in 1989 and purchased Bay Park Pet Clinic in 1993. He got a certification for veterinary acupuncture in 1997.

Some information not on there- Roper is a kind individual who likes to make things personal. Cards are written when dogs pass away, letters are sent out informing people of special times of month (dental specials in January and February!), and he treats the owners of his patients as if they were friends, speaking to them from both a medical viewpoint and his own 'what would I do as an owner' viewpoint.

-More information will come later. For now, we can go with what's on here. I suppose some askable questions are things like 'What inspired you to move to San Diego?' or 'Why did you decide to pursue acupuncture?' Things like that.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #...5, I think

Project Description
Internship Site: Bay Park Pet Clinic
Department: Veterenary
Project Title: Observational Knowledge
General Description: Student will learn about the regular procedures, supplies, terms and knowledge surrounding the operations of a veterenary clinic.
Learning Objectives: Expand knowledge of regular operations and medical terms, as well as get a feel for the atmospheric pressure and general basis of applying knowledge of systematic terms to a real situation. Also, implementation of basic social communication skills, and ability to recognize the required processes of working in a medical enviornment.
Organizational Benifits: Another helping hand around the area; due to insurance and safety reasons this is limited to the retrieval of supplies, relaying of information, etc. I am not allowed to hold the animals while they are being poked with needles and the like in case they attack me.
Schedule: ...? While I'm there?
Academic Skills: Thinking and processing, the ability to retain knowledge and apply it to a real-world situation. Biology must be known in order to understand the basic workings of the workplace.
Technical Skills: ...?
Collab. Skills: Communication is a must! You have to be able to talk to the people there about different things, lest you lose track of important information.
Exhibition Plans: Display a presentation of what I know and have learned. Show pictures when applicable (privacy means not many).
Schedule/Timelines: ---

Week in Review
Monday/Tuesday: Absent; ill
The week itself was interesting. I saw everything from a doggie getting his back sewn up to a kitty with lupis to a doggie with diabetes to a K-9 root canal to doggie neuters and spays to an oral endoscopy! The oral endoscopy was probably the best part though; the dog had eaten a paper towel and some sort of round ball toy that we actually pulled out of his stomach! As the week progressed I started to become more useful, fetching supplies and getting things for nurses and doctors as they needed them. Working with others is really no problem for me, since the people there are very nice and friendly. I think the worst part, though, was having an old doggie move on to the other side... It was just very sad, and everyone was just... silent for a while, not really saying anything... Then we had to pick ourselves up and carry on with the day and the animals that were coming in. Today (yes, I worked on MLK day to make up for being sick on Monday and Tuesday) was also pretty interesting, and I got to see a kitten neuter (and the first pet freak out after anaesthetics), as well as the removal of a growth of fat under a dog's skin. Things were kinda slow today though, probably because of the rain.

Sorry this is late, I wanted to take today's events into consideration while writing it.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #4

In the interview I eventually have with my mentor or coworker, I would like to learn what caused him or her to pursue his/her field of work. I would also like to know what his/her most interesting experience working in their field is, and what the most challenging thing that he's had to do is. I'd also like to know about his/her past work life; whether he just opened the vet clinic or where he worked before he did, and how long he's been operating this clinic, etc.

Naturally, veterinary hours are hectic. You never know when there's going to be something going on - there are a lot of call-ins, and a lot of pets who have scheduled appointments. It would be best to speak to my mentor about what times he is available or not currently occupied, and if needs be, allow him to go back to whatever he was doing with his patients should the need arise. (after all, the pets are more important than my work.)

INTERNSHIP BLOG #3

Before I begin, I would like to formally apologize for not posting blog entries yesterday and the day before. I can assure you, though, that this has nothing to do with a lack of interest in posting them, or a lack of wanting to post them. I was unwell yesterday and the day before, unable to attend internship due to a doctor's appointment and a general state of unbeing. Thus, there was no way for me to gather sufficient information relating to any sort of material that would be presented in blog format. I will try to make up for it in any way I can, though.

(Tonight's entry is being done at 9:55 pm because I didn't get home until 6 and then was trying to relax after a long day, if you're wondering.)

Project ideas have been bounced around the workplace experimentally; but nothing has officially been settled on as of yet due to this only being my third day of working around the clinic. Our ideas mostly revolve around me watching the proceedures and getting a feel for how things work- naturally, however, this does not advance the needs of the workplace, as my ability to tell you that an ultrasound machine is used to collect urine samples, or that, when under effects of the anaesthetic, animals may need assistance breathing, or that a dog or cat's normal temperature is around 100 degrees farenheight does not at all benefit the workplace, except maybe by saving them a question in the future that I wouldn't be able to ask if I weren't interning there. Although, musing about these random facts I've learned has given me an idea- some sort of flyer that I could make, that would be at the clinic, and feature some things you should know when treating your pet at home. It could feature information I've learned, utilize design skills I've developed over the years, and potentially save the doctors and nurses a lot of stupid questions.

As far as materials go... A pencil, paper, a way to keep notes on what I learn (which I've found is quite easy to do on the iPod touch my brother gave me- no worries, I don't bring my headphones with me), and a computer- which I can work on mine at home for. I can make drafts of possible fliers and show them to the doctors and nurses and see what they think, then make the necessary revisions. It may not be effective for the current store, but they are probably going to be moving or opening a new shop soon, and it would definitely be helpful to new clients and new pet owners.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #2

Work at Bay Park Pet Clinic has definitely been an interesting experience so far. I am having a lot of fun, be it from watching the procedures and playing with the animals to chatting to the nurses and asking them and the doctors about how things work around the office. I have had a lot of interesting experiences there, including watching a dog get spayed! I am not allowed to take part in the procedures and I have to be extra-careful around the animals, though, since if I get hurt then I'm in for a lot of trouble. I have had plenty of fun just being around the area, though. I've also been able to retrieve things for some of the nurses when they need them, so hopefully I'll be able to help them when it comes to that regard in the future. I also feel like I get along well with the nurses, and while I do feel left out of their conversations about adult life sometimes, I can get a word in here and there and have a good laugh with them, which certainly makes it easier to be around the workplace (especially since I was nervous about interacting with the employees). When pets are brought in I tend to ask what they're in for unless it's already been asked by someone else, and I'll often wander around and watch things that are going on, and the doctors and nurses will explain what's going on upon being prompted, and sometimes on their own too. While I feel like my job isn't a big one, I do feel like I've had a lot of fun and if I make more of an effort I'll be able to do more to help out around the workplace.

INTERNSHIP BLOG #1

So far, internship has proved to be an exciting and wonderful experience. I have only had one day at my workplace, but I am already interested and involved in what is happening at the workplace. I will record a log of what happened throughout the day to provide better insight about my first day at internship.

Rising from bed was not a problem, as I woke up at 7 am, if only to go to the bathroom. The next few hours were spent interacting with my parents and getting ready for the day, gathering papers I would need and packing the camera in a bag which I decided to bring along, and also grabbing a notebook which I could use to take notes, not to mention a lunch. We set out for Bay Park Pet Clinic at around 9:40 am, since my work hours will be from 10 - 4, as that is when everything tends to happen around the clinic, according to my mentor.

We arrived at the clinic a little after 10, and my dad saw it fit to take a picture of me outside the clinic.
As you can see, I was relatively overdressed... I personally blame our teachers, as they told us to overdress for the occasion. The entry to the clinic is behind that white fence you see me in front of, through glass doors that only human hands are able to open (fortunately). The doors are mostly window, so you can also see what kind of critters are inside the office before you bring your shy, timid pet that hides at the sight of another animal into the office.

My father and I entered the building, and I greeted Amber the receptionist. She brought me back and let me put my things down, then led me to the back room where the examinations and operations are done. The room itself looked something like this from the back corner.

The door on the left is how you enter and exit the room; the shelf contains some medications and some other random supplies, like tissues and febreeze (the most important supply). Calendars, pictures, and drinks also decorated this wall, as well as a few muzzles and other doggie and kitty supplies.
There were also a few... interesting things around the area, which were quite hilarious to look at. I got the feeling that I would fit right in with these crazy people, especially if they're messing with each other in ways like this. Everyone was very friendly, and helped me get into the flow of things, and didn't mind when I asked questions about what was going on.
I was also given knowledge I had at that point already gathered - my attire was not very appropriate for veterinary work. Jeans and a tee shirt would work fine. I laughed and told them that I had figured as much, and I would dress better when I returned on Friday. Most of the people wore scrubs but they said it was okay if I didn't wear one - after all, I wasn't actually a doctor or a nurse there, and wearing them might confuse the people around me.

The day mostly consisted of me shadowing people, following them around and getting a feel for the kinds of things that would be happening around the clinic. I saw all sorts of things, from X-Rays to Cyst removal to dental cleanings, to even seeing a poor doggie who had been bitten getting stitches. I was not allowed to take pictures of the animals but I was allowed to take pictures of the scenery, so I took some pictures of the area where some of these tasks are done, and one of the cages that the smaller animals are held in (when not being worked on).

The top image is one of the operational rooms - the main room also has a table that is worked on, and a lot of work is done on the floor for bigger dogs, but little mister 'I got bitten' got stitches on that table. There's all sorts of medical supplies in this room, and through the glass is the X-Ray room, where x-rays of the animals are taken to get a better look at their insides. The above cage is where one of the kitties there for dental was being kept, while he was getting his dental cleaning done. There's a paper litterbox and a water bowl, as well as a towel for the kitty or doggie to lay on to keep comfy.

The pictures above are from the blood sampling room, and a computer with pet records is also in this room - then again, there seems to be one of those in every room! The walls were lined with papers and more often than not, someone was in here doing something important. I got lucky and was able to sneak in and take a few pictures during a slow point in the day. It seemed like there were either a bunch of pets that needed to be taken care of at once, or there was nothing to go around and everyone was free to just converse with one another.

Most of these conversations are about either the ladies' lives or the events going on. One of the conversations slipped into money matters, and listening in helped me understand how economics and the recession has affected the clinic. They're a popular clinic, so it seems at first as if they wouldn't be affected, but there were some animals who were brought in a few days after something happened- one dog was brought in three days after he ate a flea soap bar! Prices of medication also tend to go up, at least on a yearly basis. One patient was complaining that the price of medication had gone up since the last payment, which is understandable, especially in a business involving medicine, which has been affected by the recession and economic crisis.

Lunch was a little confusing. It's not so much 'Lunch' so much as 'Okay, so take a break sometime and eat something.' I ended up eating when there were no pets that needed work so I wouldn't be caught off guard by some animal who wanted my lunch. Naturally, I'll have to bring my lunch each day due to dietary needs, but at least I'll constantly be around if I'm needed for something. I also didn't mind eating late, even if it was about two or so hours after I'm used to eating and I was getting awfully hungry.

The day was eventful, but mellow at the same time. I must say that I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of my time working there.

And remember...

WALL MOUSE PLUSHIE IS WATCHING YOU.